The Search For The Reincarnated Queen

Oberon and Velo prepared herbs and potions in the dining table in Aunt Sussie's house, while Macky and Ben watch the shamans work their way for the ritual.

"We never tried doing this to a vampire, so we don't know whether this will be successful." Oberon glanced over at Macky's small face who's plastered with nervousness while putting leaves and flowers in a large pot.

Ben patted Macky's back and smiled, it will help them a lot if Macky can see E which can prove to Taylan that the Queen's not fully transformed yet and that Eli's not even the past Queen yet.

E clasped her hand while hoping that this will work. It has to. She needs Macky to tell Taylan what's happening.

Velo took out a clean piece of cloth and dripped it in the potion made by Oberon in the pot and squeezed it dry while murmuring enchanting words.

Oberon then took a small bell out of his pocket and rung it as Velo walks towards Macky and held the cloth over his small forehead.

"Close your eyes," Oberon ordered.

Velo continued saying the chant as Macky closes his eyes. After a few seconds, Velo looked concerned and looked at Oberon.

Nothing's happening. Macky's supposed to react to the potion once his third eye is open.

Oberon gestured Velo to continue the chant for a while. Ben already knew that it wouldn't work, since Macky's not able to see already, and the ritual's not really intended for a vampire.

E sighed while watching them. Shaman's works never fail, especially if the shaman's elderly, just like Oberon. He's done a lot of rituals already for sure, and he's already learned a lot. There's a little chance of failing for a professional like him.

"It's fine," Macky whispered and opened his eyes while removing the piece of cloth over his forehead. He smiled at Oberon and Ben, "I don't think this works for vampires."

Oberon nodded with a dissatisfied look on his face, "With my observation, Ben can only see her, which means, only a human can connect with a soul."

Ben shook his head, "Eli saw her first, the Queen showed herself to her reincarnation first."

Oberon folded his arms and stared at Ben while he goes back to take a seat while Velo took the cloth and started cleaning the table.

"Then my conclusion is right. But, you mean Eli already know the Queen before this happened?" Oberon asked.

Ben sighed and nodded, "Yes, it seems so. But she never told anyone. And what's alarming is that she's not responding to the Queen now that she's back."

E walks towards Macky who's sulking with his head resting on the table while sitting down. She knows how much he wants to see her. She misses him too.

"Ben!" E suddenly had the thought and smiled with wide excited eyes, "Can Oberon undo Pen and Macky's curse?"

Ben stared at Oberon while thinking if Oberon can do it. Shamans were the ones who did it before, maybe he can remove it too since he's also a shaman. "Oberon," Ben called, "Can you undo Macky and Pen's curse?"

Velo stopped and turned to Oberon with an amazed expression. He never thought about that, nor did his master. They knew about that curse but since it's an ancient one, the new shamans never thought of fixing the past's destruction.

"Why didn't I thought of that? If my ancestors did that, there must be something to remove it!" Oberon cheered and stood up while checking his jacket. "Wait," he pointed at Macky, "I'll check my spellbook." He said and took out a small old booklet. Its pages are almost torn and it's as thin as a fly's wings.

Oberon turns the pages carefully with his narrowed eyes reading the spells. Then his eyes went huge with gladness, "Aha! I found it!"

Taylan left with Trace to check the fixing of the castle, leaving Eli and Willow together. The atmosphere turned heavy the moment Willow turned to Eli, she suddenly remembered E's past love with Willow.

Since Eli knows Willows's emotions now for E, she can't help but wonder, if E didn't forget Willow, would she choose Willow over Taylan?

Comparing her two love stories, Eli will prefer Willow's. He was the sweetest. He was open to E. Even E never hide anything from Willow. She was herself when she's with him. At first, she was the lady a society wants to see, but as they spend time together, she began being herself.

"Eli," Willow sat in front of her, "I know something's wrong," he said and bites his lips.

The way Eli looked at him the night they found her, something was different. The feeling he felt was long gone, but it awakened.

The day the Queen married Taylan, he promised himself to never feel the same way again. And even though there is lingering love, he never had such a strong pull to take the Queen.

"I know the Queen, she wouldn't look at me like that, even if we were together. She's not someone who will just agree or disagree, or nod and smile. But the whole time you're here, you're acting nothing but a puppet. Even now," Willow took Eli's hand and held it.

"What's happening? Do you want me to scream at you to wake up?" He said and chuckled.

Eli wanted to nod, but her body felt nothing but disgust with Willow's hand over her.

Willow's eyes are full of worry and care. She suddenly missed the look in his eyes whenever he sees her as if she's just mere dust.

"Taylan and the others can't see it, but you look dead to me. Vanford must've done something to you. I didn't tell anyone but I saw this vial in the mansion," Willow showed Eli the vial that Vanford used to make her drink something.

"I'll ask Macky to trace what's in this content but I have to be sure that Taylan wouldn't find out. You can see how happy he is that you're back --- I mean, the Queen's back. You're not her, technically. Her soul just entered your body and stored back her memory in your mind."

Eli fell in awe with Willow's words, she never expected him to see her as herself even if she looks like E while everyone calls her Queen.

"I was surprised when I found out it was you. I knew something was weird about you, but none of us thought that you're..." Willow chuckled and shook his head, "You're here? You two are quite alike, but there's still a big difference. And... don't get carried away when I call you 'Queen' you're still the human I know, human."

Eli wanted to scream and hug Willow. He's the only one aside from Ben who can still see her as herself. It makes her want to cry out loud--

"Waaaaah!"

Willow froze when she wailed, even Eli was shocked that she got to control her emotion and body.

"Eli?" Willow called with a shocked and smiling face, "Are you back?"

Eli nodded and went to hug Willow, she cheered and even jumped for joy, "I got to back! I'm back!"

Willow stood up and held her hand, "What happened? Tell me fast, your state may not even be permanent."

"I was kidnapped by Vanford. I woke up and he made me drink something from that vial," Eli pointed at the in the table left by Willow, "Then I turned like this! I remembered everything, including your love story--" Eli suddenly felt fl.u.s.tered but Willow looked serious and he just nodded, "-- then I can't control my body anymore! I saw Vanford's face changing! I don't know but, maybe he killed the Queen before."

Eli was almost out of breath while explaining what happened without even breathing, afraid that she may freeze and get stuck in her mind any second.

She held Willow's hand and squeezed it, "Please, help me."

Willow nodded and stared into Eli's eyes. He knows how scared she may be now. Eli doesn't really even know what's happening around her. She just got in this mess because of Vanford.

"What else do you know about Vanford, Eli?"

"There's nothing, really. He just hugged me and gave me roses, telling me that everything will be alright. I'm guessing, he may have acted as one of the Queen's acquaintances before since he looked too close to her."

Willow looked at the window then he remembered Ben, "He acted as France Benedict, Eli. He took his appearance after he killed him."

Eli tried to remember who France Benedict is, "Is that her best friend?"

Willow nodded, "Anyway, now that I know what's happening to you, I can assure you that I'll do anything to help. Taylan's not in a good position to face this reality. We will have to work together with the others before we can tell him. You don't know how happy he is now, and I'm sure getting him upset will cause a lot of trouble."

"Why don't you just tell him? If he really loves the Queen, I'm sure he'll understand."

Willow let out of Eli's hand and sighed, "If you can remember everything, Eli, then you know that Taylan doesn't really know the Queen. You know who he is, but he won't accept another failure." Willow stared at Eli's short hair, he remembered Taylan's past, the day when they were nothing but children playing around.

"Eli, do you know what Taylan's father did to him? And why Taylan grew to be too possessive of his things, including the Queen, even though he rarely spends his time with her?"

Eli nodded. Of course, among all the memories that she can remember, the one that strikes her the most was Taylan's past.

"Taylan was pitiful," Eli's words suddenly became too sluggish, then she can feel losing control over her body.

She looked at Willow and shook her head and hugged him before she can finally lose.

Willow smiled, "Don't worry, I'm here. I won't leave you again, and this is the payment for the coffee," he said and assisted her to go back to sit.

After a few seconds, her expressionless face was once again back. Then she can hear Vanford going crazy on how he lost connection with her for a while.

Since it seems like Vanford doesn't even know what is happening around Eli, and only getting to hold information with her emotions, Eli promised herself to take full control of her body.

It's hers.

Even if she doesn't look like herself.

Even if everyone keeps on calling her as someone she's not.

There are still those who can see her as Eli who's not the Queen.

But upon remembering Taylan's past, Eli can't shake off the thought that maybe she's not the only one who's needing of saving, maybe Taylan's also lost and is waiting to be found.